A friend of mine recently recounted a story of how we first met when I was a media planner at an agency and he sold digital advertising (in the mid-90s!) Apparently, my superiors directed him to meet with me and pitch his site because "Toya loves surfing the web." I understood then that the advent of Internet access would open up the world to all, as well as enable us to learn from and connect with each other.

Today, I serve as Director in the Center of Media Excellence IRI, where I wear many hats, including delivering shopper insights from digital advertising sales lift analyses, managing the day-to-day partner relationships, product marketing with media and research partners as well as developing thought leadership presentations highlighting the intersection of digital platforms and the human experience.

Prior to my experience CPG Market Research at IRI, I spent 15 years at several agencies including Starcom Media Group, Burrell Communications, and MPG working in various communications and media planning positions for a list of Fortune 500 companies including P&G, Sears, Ford, Volkswagen, Comedy Central, Exxon/Mobil and American Airlines to name a few. My work in reaching multicultural as well as general-market consumers has led to innovative media connections that delivered quantifiable, incremental growth for my clients.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Go ILLINI!) and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. I'm a lifelong Chicagoan (as in Chicago city proper) and I'm still here geeking out on news, politics, social justice and of course, just about everything digital.